Advertisement
Help Keep Boards Alive. Support us by going ad free today. See here: https://subscriptions.boards.ie/.
https://www.boards.ie/group/1878-subscribers-forum

Private Group for paid up members of Boards.ie. Join the club.
Hi all, please see this major site announcement: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058427594/boards-ie-2026

Do you know anyone who is illiterate ?

13

Comments

  • #62
    spurious
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Education Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 27,498 CMod ✭✭✭✭spurious


    aDeener wrote: »
    travellers only have themselves to blame. there is no excuse in this day and age to not be able to read and write barring a disability of course


    I love how the world is so simple for some people.


  • #63
    madrabui
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 423 ✭✭madrabui


    I got talking to a traveller once and ended up doing a bit of reading and writing for her. I felt like I was a secretary for a writer. The letters were sometimes correspondence with her estranged husband, and I used to look forward to the next instalment to the saga.


  • #64
    Gone West
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,374 ✭✭✭Gone West


    I know a guy with no hands (he can read however)


  • #65
    the_syco
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37,310 ✭✭✭✭the_syco


    madrabui wrote: »
    I got talking to a traveller once and ended up doing a bit of reading and writing for her. I felt like I was a secretary for a writer. The letters were sometimes correspondence with her estranged husband, and I used to look forward to the next instalment to the saga.
    There was probably someone reading and writing for him as well :D


  • #66
    Sierra Bitter Pail
    Posts: 81,308 CMod ✭✭✭✭ Sierra Bitter Pail


    baz2009 wrote: »
    So anyone who reads some of the most popular newspapers in Ireland is illiterate?

    They just read it for the articles pictures

    It must be difficult to be illiterate, a lot of learning to read books are aimed at children aren't they? Pretty embarrassing to be faced with a kid's book I guess.


  • Advertisement
  • #67
    Sykk
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,327 ✭✭✭Sykk


    OP obviously isn't on Facebook.


  • #68
    Salander
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17 ✭Salander


    I tutored adult literacy for two years and its unbelievable the amount of people that are illiterate and you would not know. Its not just traveller's that are the higher percentage. A lot are people who left school in 60's and 70's at an early age and fell through the system. Poor education and illiteracy not spotted in schools,due to nonattendance ect is also a contributing factor.

    What surprised me most when I started was becoming aware of the everyday things illiterate adults can;t do. Read a menu. Difficulty with pass machines. Road signs. Directions. Simple things like filling in forms. And surprisingly enough most illiterate adults have hid this from people most of their lives and have an innate survival mode/ method to get around this without anyone ever knowing. Clever in a way....


  • #69
    Salander
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17 ✭Salander


    bluewolf wrote: »
    They just read it for the articles pictures

    It must be difficult to be illiterate, a lot of learning to read books are aimed at children aren't they? Pretty embarrassing to be faced with a kid's book I guess.

    Dalc facilitate non child like learning material for illiteracy.


  • #70
    stovelid
    Closed Accounts Posts: 27,252 ✭✭✭✭stovelid


    I know a person (now in their 60s) that couldn't read or write.


  • #71
    Terry
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,073 ✭✭✭✭Terry


    spurious wrote: »
    I love how the world is so simple for some people.
    The irony of his post is delicious.


  • Advertisement
  • #72
    Jaxxy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,297 ✭✭✭Jaxxy


    When I worked on counters in post offices I was constantly surprised by the amount of people who couldn't read or write. I'd be giving someone their child benefit, for example, and ask them to sign. They'd ask where and I'd point it out to them. They'd make an 'X' or a cross for their signature.

    Used to sadden me.


  • #73
    IvyTheTerrible
    Closed Accounts Posts: 14,949 ✭✭✭✭IvyTheTerrible


    My partner's uncle is illiterate in French. He emigrated to France when he was 18 having never learned French at school. He speaks French like a local but he can't write a word of it. His daughter has to do all the form-filling (and god the French love making you fill out forms). I feel kinda sorry for her moreso because she doesn't want to move away and leave her dad in the lurch.


  • #74
    Feeona
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,632 ✭✭✭Feeona


    Salander wrote: »
    I tutored adult literacy for two years and its unbelievable the amount of people that are illiterate and you would not know. Its not just traveller's that are the higher percentage. A lot are people who left school in 60's and 70's at an early age and fell through the system. Poor education and illiteracy not spotted in schools,due to nonattendance ect is also a contributing factor.

    What surprised me most when I started was becoming aware of the everyday things illiterate adults can;t do. Read a menu. Difficulty with pass machines. Road signs. Directions. Simple things like filling in forms. And surprisingly enough most illiterate adults have hid this from people most of their lives and have an innate survival mode/ method to get around this without anyone ever knowing. Clever in a way....

    Unbelievably clever. My brother in law is illiterate and the amount of strategies he's picked up to hide the fact that he can't read is unreal. He's too embarrassed to admit he can't read though :(, I don't think he realises how many people are just like him. His embarrassment prevents him from attending adult literacy classes


  • #75
    Acoshla
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,729 ✭✭✭Acoshla


    My Dad is 53 and can't really read, he can read short text messages or notes and can just about sign his name or write a card but that's it.

    He is one of the ones who can put bets on in the bookies, but that's down to only going to one bookies where he knows everyone and they help him do it. Some words he can read and write out of sheer repetition over the years, like as I said his signature or my name etc. But I think he more recognises the shapes to write than the actual letters, because he does it all joined up and I've watched him, as opposed to lifting the pen after a letter he lifts it mid way through random curves and stuff. He can use atm's too, again out of years of repetition, but if the atm shows a screen he's not used to (about receipts, or none of a particular note) he's done for, has to leave it.

    He left school at 12 to go working, most people would never know he can't read or write very well, but it's a pain in the ass for my mom because she has to fill all forms, read all his letters, deal with everything like banks etc, and considering they're separated 20 years it's even more awkward for her!

    Edit: I just read this whole thread now and I never realised how many people consider illiterate people to be stupid. I guess because I grew up with someone who couldn't read or write and know how clever he is in other areas that it saddens me to think people would automatically assume he's thick. He knows his life would be easier if he could do these things but when he didn't learn it as a child he could never really grasp it after that, he's been to classes as an adult but he just finds it so tough. But I would never have imagined others would dismiss him so quickly as being just too lazy to learn.


  • #76
    Penny Lane
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 67 ✭✭Penny Lane


    My ex brother in law is illiterate, we actually went to school together but he was always in trouble, a real dosser and he left secondary as soon as he could. So now he can't read or write. He has a major chip on his shoulder about it but won't go and do anything about it. It's a shame cos he's an intelligent guy but he can't even read a text. He was a roofer but now with the recession he's finding it very hard to get work and not being able to read & write doesn't help.

    My dad left school at 15, he's not illiterate but he has very poor spelling and always gets me to do any paperwork for him. It was normal in his day though to leave school early and go to work... Mam also left school early but she reads a lot so her reading and writing is fine.


  • #77
    ScumLord
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,787 ✭✭✭✭ScumLord


    I used to work in a petrol station and a traveller used to come into me to have his text messages read. I didn't think much of it at first but all the text messages where dirty texts from birds he was riding. So I was standing in the forecourt reading out these messages from women explaining what they wanted him to do to them and he seemed to be getting excited by them and a crowd would gather. Eventually I just had to tell him I'm not reading them out for him any more.


  • #78
    dan719
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,597 ✭✭✭dan719


    spurious wrote: »
    Just about being able to read a newspaper with a reading age of 8 (for example 'The Sun') would make you functionally illiterate.
    A person with a reading age of below 10 would struggle with some of the instructions on medicines and tablets for example.

    Most LC students would be reading at a reading age of about 12/13.

    Any chance of a link for the latter point? Because it sounds like rubbish to me.


  • #79
    Dyr
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,246 ✭✭✭✭Dyr


    ScumLord wrote: »
    I used to work in a petrol station and a traveller used to come into me to have his text messages read. I didn't think much of it at first but all the text messages where dirty texts from birds he was riding. So I was standing in the forecourt reading out these messages from women explaining what they wanted him to do to them and he seemed to be getting excited by them and a crowd would gather. Eventually I just had to tell him I'm not reading them out for him any more.

    Would have made a good blog that.


  • #80
    Sykk
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,327 ✭✭✭Sykk


    Spadina wrote: »
    My Dad is 53 and can't really read, he can read short text messages or notes and can just about sign his name or write a card but that's it.

    He is one of the ones who can put bets on in the bookies, but that's down to only going to one bookies where he knows everyone and they help him do it. Some words he can read and write out of sheer repetition over the years, like as I said his signature or my name etc. But I think he more recognises the shapes to write than the actual letters, because he does it all joined up and I've watched him, as opposed to lifting the pen after a letter he lifts it mid way through random curves and stuff. He can use atm's too, again out of years of repetition, but if the atm shows a screen he's not used to (about receipts, or none of a particular note) he's done for, has to leave it.

    He left school at 12 to go working, most people would never know he can't read or write very well, but it's a pain in the ass for my mom because she has to fill all forms, read all his letters, deal with everything like banks etc, and considering they're separated 20 years it's even more awkward for her!

    Edit: I just read this whole thread now and I never realised how many people consider illiterate people to be stupid. I guess because I grew up with someone who couldn't read or write and know how clever he is in other areas that it saddens me to think people would automatically assume he's thick. He knows his life would be easier if he could do these things but when he didn't learn it as a child he could never really grasp it after that, he's been to classes as an adult but he just finds it so tough. But I would never have imagined others would dismiss him so quickly as being just too lazy to learn.
    Lol!


  • #81
    IvyTheTerrible
    Closed Accounts Posts: 14,949 ✭✭✭✭IvyTheTerrible


    Sykk wrote: »
    Lol!

    Where's the joke?


  • Advertisement
  • #82
    stovelid
    Closed Accounts Posts: 27,252 ✭✭✭✭stovelid


    aDeener wrote: »
    travellers only have themselves to blame. there is no excuse in this day and age to not be able to read and write barring a disability of course

    We need to coin a special phrase for these kind of views/posts. Something like:

    An aDeenerism

    or

    He's over in AH aDeenering out of him.
    IvyTheTerrible wrote: »
    Where's the joke?

    http://boards.ie/vbulletin/member.php?u=174156


  • #83
    spurious
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Education Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 27,498 CMod ✭✭✭✭spurious


    spurious wrote: »
    Just about being able to read a newspaper with a reading age of 8 (for example 'The Sun') would make you functionally illiterate.
    A person with a reading age of below 10 would struggle with some of the instructions on medicines and tablets for example.

    Most LC students would be reading at a reading age of about 12/13.
    dan719 wrote: »
    Any chance of a link for the latter point? Because it sounds like rubbish to me.


    You do realise the reading age scale only goes to 15 or so?
    11 and upwards shows good reading skills and certainly no more than 13 would be needed for most Leaving Cert. work.

    Someone reading at a reading age of 15 would be able to read highly technical manuals and explanations once and understand them thoroughly without having to re-read anything.

    A Reading age of 15 does not mean it is expected that someone with a CA (chronological age) of 15 would read at that standard. Very few people do, since such a level of reading skill is not needed in most people's lives.


  • #84
    Scuid Mhór
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,326 ✭✭✭Scuid Mhór


    Mike 1972 wrote: »
    TBH I suspect its a lot higher than 11%

    As far as im concerned anyone who uses TXT SPK on the internet or buys red top tabloids falls into the category of illiterate.

    you're an idiot.

    literate

    - 3 dictionary results
    lit·er·ate

       [lit-er-it] dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif Show IPA
    –adjective 1. able to read and write.

    2. having or showing knowledge of literature, writing, etc.; literary; well-read.

    3. characterized by skill, lucidity, polish, or the like: His writing is literate but cold and clinical.

    4. having knowledge or skill in a specified field: literate in computer usage.

    5. having an education; educated.


    –noun 6. a person who can read and write.

    7. a learned person.




    see the first goddamn definition. ABLE TO READ AND WRITE. one does not buy the tabloid if one cannot comprehend the headline. one does not write in text speak unless one comprehends the word in proper english.

    i'd be worried that you'll think this post is OFFENSIVE but i'm sure you'll just change the definition of 'idiot' so you can delude yourself into thinking i complimented you.

    words don't change so you can flaunt a misplace sense of self-superiority. get over it.


  • #85
    E.T.
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,170 ✭✭✭E.T.


    I'd imagine there are a lot of illiterate people in Ireland. Some of the teachers I work with, who would be close to retirement age, have talked about teaching classes of 40-50 back in the 70's and 80's. I know most kids were better behaved back then but there isn't enough time in any day to get around to that many kids. I remember one of those teachers saying that the classroom was so packed that unless there was an emergency (ie someone about to pee in their pants), the kids went into their rows and didn't get out til lunchtime.

    I look at my own classes (primary, usually infants, between 20-35 kids max) where I teach at least 5 different levels of reading ability in each class, and constantly feel guilty about not giving each of them enough individual attention. Can't imagine how it must have been back then.

    There's also a huge amount of awareness of different learning disabilities and difficulties now. I feel so sorry for people who went through school genuinely not having a clue what the teacher was on about. We didn't get much training on disabilities/difficulties in college, but there's loads of info available now on the internet. Obviously I'm not in any position and don't have any qualification to suggest a diagnosis to parents but I can find different learning suggestions and techniques that just weren't available to teachers before.


  • #86
    Mike 1972
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,017 ✭✭✭Mike 1972


    Giant Squid wrote: »
    –adjective 1. able to read and write.
    2. having or showing knowledge of literature, writing, etc.; literary; well-read.
    3. characterized by skill, lucidity, polish, or the like: His writing is literate but cold and clinical.
    4. having knowledge or skill in a specified field: literate in computer usage.
    5. having an education; educated.
    –noun 6. a person who can read and write.
    7. a learned person.

    I think youll find that the average person given to buying red top tabloids or using TXT SPK the internet generally tends not to fulfil several of the criteria listed above.


  • #87
    nlgbbbblth
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,668 ✭✭✭nlgbbbblth


    Giant Squid wrote: »
    you're an idiot.

    literate

    - 3 dictionary results
    lit·er·ate

       [lit-er-it] dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif Show IPA
    –adjective 1. able to read and write.

    2. having or showing knowledge of literature, writing, etc.; literary; well-read.

    3. characterized by skill, lucidity, polish, or the like: His writing is literate but cold and clinical.

    4. having knowledge or skill in a specified field: literate in computer usage.

    5. having an education; educated.


    –noun 6. a person who can read and write.

    7. a learned person.




    see the first goddamn definition. ABLE TO READ AND WRITE. one does not buy the tabloid if one cannot comprehend the headline. one does not write in text speak unless one comprehends the word in proper english.

    i'd be worried that you'll think this post is OFFENSIVE but i'm sure you'll just change the definition of 'idiot' so you can delude yourself into thinking i complimented you.

    words don't change so you can flaunt a misplace sense of self-superiority. get over it.

    Tabloids are for pricks.


  • #88
    John C
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 326 ✭✭John C


    IvyTheTerrible wrote: »
    My partner's uncle is illiterate in French. He emigrated to France when he was 18 having never learned French at school. He speaks French like a local but he can't write a word of it. His daughter has to do all the form-filling (and god the French love making you fill out forms). I feel kinda sorry for her moreso because she doesn't want to move away and leave her dad in the lurch.
    That happens here in Germany also. I have filled up job applications, tax returns and many official forms with persons from Ireland and Britain. These persons came to Germany as adults. Income Tax Return forms are difficult for a native speaker of German. They contain strictly defined terms that one does not hear in everyday speech.

    Many years ago many immigrants from Southern Europe did not read and write German proficiently. There had problems with court cases, buying, selling and renting a house, and more. However in every town there was at least one Portugese, Italian, Greek, Turk and Spaniard who could read and write German proficiently. The years have gone by, now these people children and grandchildren have gone to school in German. They have as high literacy rate as the Germans.


  • #89
    stovelid
    Closed Accounts Posts: 27,252 ✭✭✭✭stovelid


    Mike 1972 wrote: »
    I think youll find that the average person given to buying red top tabloids or using TXT SPK the internet generally tends not to fulfil several of the criteria listed above.
    nlgbbbblth wrote: »
    Tabloids are for pricks.

    I often buy the red-tops for football and I know more big words than youse two put together.

    So there.

    :)


  • #90
    ejmaztec
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,369 ✭✭✭✭ejmaztec


    Some people, for whatever reason, just slip through the net, and they seem to come up with all kinds of excuses and dodges, so that they never have to own up to being illiterate.

    I did the accounts for some guy in England, a few years ago and, had it not been for a mutual friend telling me that he couldn't read or write, it would have taken me a while to figure it out. The guy could sign his name, and only ever nodded when I was explaining his accounts to him. I dumped a pile of vat leaflets in front of him to see the reaction, but he just brushed them aside, telling me that he'd read them later.

    His friend was telling me that when they worked together, the illiterate guy was always getting sent out to deliver goods, and if Birmingham was the destination, he'd be looking out for a sign with a "B" on it, and hope for the best. He could have ended up in Bradford.

    Some people eventually decide to do something about it.

    A college lecturer was telling me that, on one of the occasions that he had to stand in for someone, he found himself supervising some construction students, who had been given an essay to write. When the lecturer was wandering around, they were all busily putting pen to paper, and he just happened to glance at the work of one of them, and noticed that the young guy was just scribbling across the page, to make it look as if he was writing.


  • Advertisement
  • #91
    merengueca
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 465 ✭✭merengueca


    At least 3 guys who work with me are illiterate, a father and his two sons, the youngest lad is only 22.

    They have managed to slip through the entire education system without ever having their learning issues addressed.

    The eldest lad is smart, and really has the potential to progress through the company, BUT, to progress beyond labouring takes quite a regimented process of gaining technical and safety competencies. He knows all the rules and regs and could easily demonstrate that he has the knowledge but he cannot work through the neccessary exams. He has become so frustrated at his repeated failures in the exams and has got to the point where he is unwilling to address his literacy problems, he had enrolled on an adult learning course, and is now stating that he is happy in his current role. I hope thats the truth, but he had already become the first person in his family to buy his own home I really would love to see him move into a Gangers job.


Advertisement
Advertisement